Petrolimex pilots Ohmee convenience stores at Hanoi gas stations

Overview

Petrolimex (PLX) has partnered with Chinese convenience store chain Ohmee (Meiyijia) to pilot integrated convenience stores at its gas stations in Hanoi. The first two Ohmee Express outlets have opened, marking a step in Petrolimex’s strategy to evolve from fuel retailers into multi-utility energy and service points.

Key Facts

• Two Ohmee Express convenience stores have opened at Petrolimex gas stations in Hanoi, including one on Nguyễn Quý Đức Street (Thanh Xuân district).
• The pilot stores are compact, at just over 10 square meters, within gas stations of 200-300 square meters.
• Ohmee is the retail brand of Meiyijia, a Chinese convenience store chain founded in Guangdong in 1997, with over 40,000 stores in China.
• Ohmee entered Vietnam in April 2026, aiming to build a modern convenience service ecosystem nationwide.
• Petrolimex’s Deputy General Director Nguyễn Ngọc Tú said the partnership aligns with the company’s business model innovation, network advantage, and service expansion amid energy transition and digital transformation.
• The pilot is part of Petrolimex’s goal to convert its stations into “energy and service supply points” with multi-utilities.
• PLX closed at VND 35,150 on September 7, 2026.

What Happened

Petrolimex, Vietnam’s state-owned petroleum conglomerate, has launched a pilot program with Ohmee, a Chinese convenience store brand, to operate integrated convenience stores at its gas stations. The first two Ohmee Express outlets are now open in Hanoi, with one located at a station on Nguyễn Quý Đức Street. The stores are designed for quick transactions, featuring self-service shelves and a counter for fresh food items like bread, sausages, and bao buns, as well as essential consumer goods.

According to Petrolimex, the pilot aims to test the integrated convenience store model within its fuel station network. Deputy General Director Nguyễn Ngọc Tú emphasized that the collaboration supports Petrolimex’s orientation to innovate its business model, leverage its network, and expand new services in the context of energy transition and digital transformation. The company intends to gradually shift from being “fuel sale points” to “energy and service supply points.”

Market Context

PLX, listed on HOSE, closed at VND 35,150 on September 7, 2026. The move comes as Vietnam’s convenience store market has grown rapidly over the past five years, with major domestic and international players expanding. Circle K leads with over 520 stores, followed by GS25 with more than 400, Ministop with around 180, and FamilyMart with nearly 150. Petrolimex’s extensive network of gas stations across the country provides a unique distribution advantage, but the company faces the challenge of diversifying revenue as fuel demand growth slows and electric vehicles gain traction.

Strategic Significance

For long-term investors, this pilot represents Petrolimex’s proactive response to structural changes in the energy sector. By integrating convenience retail into its stations, PLX aims to increase non-fuel revenue, improve customer loyalty, and future-proof its assets against the energy transition. The partnership with Ohmee, backed by Meiyijia’s operational expertise and scale, could accelerate the rollout if the pilot proves successful. This aligns with global trends where fuel retailers transform into mobility hubs offering a range of services. The success of this initiative could enhance PLX’s valuation by diversifying its earnings base beyond volatile fuel margins.

What to Watch

• Expansion of Ohmee Express to additional Petrolimex stations beyond the two Hanoi pilots.
• Revenue contribution from non-fuel retail in PLX’s quarterly earnings reports.
• Any formal agreement or equity partnership between Petrolimex and Ohmee/Meiyijia.
• Customer traffic and sales data from the pilot stores, if disclosed.
• Competitive responses from existing convenience store chains in Vietnam.